Valved bottle cap

Abstract

A cap for use with bottled water dispensing systems. The cap includes a main outer cap and an inner cap. The main outer cap has a central sleeve which receives and seals against a probe. The inner cap moves into and out of a sealing engagement with the central tube as the bottle is raised and lowered over the probe. The seal between the inner cap and the central tube is located on the outside surface of the central tube. The inner cap has a guide sleeve which centers the inner cap about the central tube, which is particularly important to achieve a proper attachment of the inner cap to the central tube during removal of the bottle from its support. The locations of the various components of the cap allow the cap to have effective differentials between the forces which are necessary to achieve proper sequencing of the formation of the various seals and connections which occur during use of the cap.

We claim: 
     
       1. A cap for use in a dispensing system, said cap comprising a main outer cap and an inner cap, said main outer cap having a skirt and a central tube, said tube being shaped to sealing engage a probe of said dispensing system, said inner cap being engageable with said probe so as to move into and out of sealing engagement with said tube, said skirt and said central tube being connected by an annular base, said tube having one end attached to said base and a free end opposite said one end, said free end having an outer surface, said inner cap having an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, said outer sleeve being shaped to form a seal on an outer surface of said tube, said sleeves being joined at one end by an inner cap base, said sleeves defining a cylindrical recess, said free end of said tube shaped to fit snugly into said recess and form a seal preventing fluid from flowing through said tube. 
     
     
       2. A cap in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said inner sleeve is longer than said outer sleeve, said inner sleeve having channels along an outer surface of said inner sleeve to prevent build-up of pressure within said recess during placement of said inner cap on said free end.   
     
     
       3. A cap accordance with claim 2 wherein: said channels are formed between splines extending from said inner cap base to a free end of said guide sleeve.   
     
     
       4. A cap in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said free end of said central tube has a tapered outer surface to facilitate engagement of said outer sleeve of inner cap with said free end.   
     
     
       5. A cap in accordance with claim 4 wherein: said outside sleeve has a first bead on an inside surface thereof, and said central tube has a second bead adjacent to said tapered surface, said first and second beads being engageable to retain said inner cap on said central tube when said free end of said central tube is in said recess.